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(No Model.) 1

H. K. WOOD.

VALVE 172bni07w .Hubertff, Wood 5} ka sfliforn Patented Aug. 18, 1896.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HUBERT K. WOOD, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

VALVE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 566,108, dated Augustis, 1896.

Application filed May 14:, 1895. Serial No. 549,255. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HUBERT K. \VOOD, a citizen of the United States,residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inValves, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to valves, and more particularly to that class ofvalves known as float-valves, which are ordinarily used in connectionwith, and for supplying water to, flushing-tanks, the object of theinvention being primarily to furnish a simple and efficientbalance-valve adaptedfor automatically controlling the influx of waterto, and for maintaining a predetermined level of water in, said tank,and to so construct and organize the parts of said valve as tofacilitate the assembling and disassembling thereof, and also to enablethe production of the same at a relatively low cost.

Another object of my present invention is to provide, in connection withthe valve-cham-' her, a sliding valve member or piston fitted forrelatively free sliding movements in said chamber, and having aninterior balancingchamber, and also to provide, in connection with saidchambered sliding valve member, a normally-fixed centering-guide adaptedfor engaging the interior of saidvalve member and for maintaining afixed axial relation between the valve-face and the valve-seat, tothereby obviate, in a great measure, the friction inherent to valveshaving a packed or externally-guided sliding valve member or piston.

In the drawings accompanying and form ing part of this specification,Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of a portion of a flushing-tank,showing my improved float-valve in connection therewith, said figureshowing the float and valve-operating lever in an elevated position, orin the position they occupy when the water in the tank has reached therequired level for closing the valve. Fig. 2 is a sectional sideelevation of the float-valve, parts thereof being broken away and thesliding valve member or piston being shown in its closed position. Fig.3 is aview of the valve similar to Fig. 2, showing the sliding valvemember in its open position. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of thecombined cap and Valve-centering guide detached, and Fig. 5 is alongitudinal section of the sliding valve member detached.

Similar characters represent like parts in all the figures of thedrawings.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention herein shown and describedthe valve consists of a suitable casing or valve-body havingcommunicating inlet and outlet passages or ports, and also having avalve-chamber of relatively large diameter, preferably in alinement withthe inlet-passage, with a valve-seat between said inlet-passage andvalve-chamber; a sliding valve member or piston fitted for relativelyfree movement in the valve-chamber and embodying aconcentricbalancing-cylinder or pressure-chamber, having a relatively smallcommunicating passage into the inlet-passage of the valve-body; an0rmally-fixed centering-guide fitting the interior of thebalancing-cylinder and constituting both a'centering device and a guidefor the sliding valve member, and a float-actuated lever in operativeconnection with and adapted for opening and closing the valve relativelyto the valve-seat, all of which will be hereinafter more fullydescribed.

In the form thereof herein shown the valvebody, which is designated in ageneral way by B and which may be of any suitable general constructionin so far as external conformation is concerned, has an inlet-passage 2and an outlet-passage 4, opening the one into the other when the valveis open, and a valvechamber 5, herein shown as of relatively largediameter as compared with the inletpassage and in alinement with saidinlet-passage.

The inner ends of the walls of the inlet passage 2 are shown asterminating in and forming the valve-seat 2, said valve-seat being ofthe usual tapered or knife-edged form, as shown most clearly in Fig. 3of the drawlngs.

The upper end of the valve-chamber 5, which is the upper end of thevalve-body proper, is internally screw-threaded, as shown at 3, toreceive the screw-threaded portion 6 of a cap or plug 0, which is fittedto and closes this end of the valve-chamber 5, said cap 0 having ahexagonal head or integral nut 6, to which a-wrench maybe applied formember V, as will be hereinafter more fully described. This cap 0, inthe form and organization thereof herein shown and described, not onlyconstitutes a closing means for the end of the valve-chamber 5, but alsoconstitutes a centering-guide for the sliding valve member V, and isnon-movable during the ordinary operations of the valve member, and mayherein-after be referred to as the com bined cap and valve-centeringguide.

For the purpose of avoiding confusion, due to tautological terms asapplied to various parts of my apparatus, the-member V, whichpractically constitutes the valve proper, is herein referred to as thesliding valvemember, and the apparatus as a whole, which includes saidvalve member V and its actuating devices, is herein referred to as thevalve, as such apparatus is usually termed in the art.

The sliding'member V, in theform thereof herein shown, is in the natureof a cylindrical piston, the longitudinal passage-way therethrough beingpreferably of relatively large diameter at the upper end thereof, asshown at 7, to form what I have herein termed the interiorbalancing-chamber, and the lower or inlet end of said passage-waybeing'preferably reduced in diameter, and furnished with a plug 9, whichhas a longi tudinal inlet perforation 9 of relatively small diameter-incommunication with the interior balancing chamber 7 of said valvemember, said plug being preferably screwed into 'the'inlet end of thevalve member V, as shown most clearly in Fig. 5, said screw having anexternal annular flange, which holds in place a packingring 8,preferably fitted into an annular recessin the lower end of the valvemember V. This valve member V is devoid of external packing, andwillusually have a comparatively loose sliding fit in the valve-chamber5, so as to work freely insaid chamber practically without friction.

For the purpose of closing the outlet end of the interiorbalancing-chamber of the valve V against the passage of water throughthe valve and also for the purpose of guiding the valve and maintainingthe same in axial working relation with the valve-seat 2the guidestem 6of the cap 0, which stem extends into and is preferably of considerablyless diameter than the diameter of the chamber 5, is provided at thelower end thereof with a packing-rin g 12, which projects beyond theperiphery of the stem 6 and impinges the interior of the sliding valvemember'V, said ring, which is preferably cup-shaped, being securelyheldrelatively to the stem 6 by means of a headed screw 10, which is screwedinto the lower endof said stem, as

clearly shown in Fig. 4; of the drawings, the

packing-ring 12 being impinged between the head of said screw and thelower end of said stem.

As a convenient means for actuating the valve to open and close thesame, the sliding valve member V is herein shown having acircumferential groove 7, adapted to receive projections upon the endsof the arm 13 of a forked lever 13, which is shown fulcrumed at 13 uponan ear or lug 5, formed integral with the valve-body adjacent to thepoint of intersection of the valve-chamber 5 and the outlet 4, thevalve-body B being recessed or cut away adjacent to the forked ends ofthe lever 13, as shown at 20, to facilitate the connection of the arms13 with the sliding valve member V. The upper wall 21 of the recess 20constitutes a stop-abutment for the arm 13-of the lever 13 and limitsthe valve-opening stroke of the lever 13. A connecting-rod 14 and afloator ball 15 are shown secured to said forked lever for actuating thesamethrough therise andfall of the water W in the tank T, as will bereadily understood by reference to Fig. 1 of the drawings.

It will be evident that when the water in the tank is at its normal highlevel or at the level represented by the dotted line h the float 15 willbe in its valve-closing position and the valve member V will be heldwith its packing-ring 8 in tightimpingement with the valve-seat 2 or inthe position illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings and will be evenlybalanced in such position by means of the fluid passing into thebalancing-chamber 7 of the valve member V, through the inlet perforation9, whereby the pressure on both sides of the valve is equalized; and itwill also be evident that upon the lowering of the water in the tank thefioat will fall and will carry the valve member V from the closedposition illustratedin Fig. 2 to the open position thereof illustratedin Fig. 3, thus allowing a supply of water to pass through theinlet-passage 2in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 2, and through theoutlet-passage 4 and into-the tank T.

As the closing and opening movements of the valve member V are gradual,owing to the gradual raising and lowering of the water-line inthe tank,the variation of the area of the outlet-port will also be gradual andthe increase or decrease of the volume of the stream caused by thecontraction and expansion of the outlet-port will be correspondinglygrad-u al, and by the formation of a balancingchamber within the wallsof the valve member it will be seen that said member will be balanced onits seatand will also be held during its operation in axial alinementwith the valve-seat and will be free for movement withshown anddescribed it will be readilyap- IIO parent to any one skilled in the artthat the parts of the valve may be made at comparatively low cost, andthat said parts may be quickly assembled and disassembled, which is amatter of considerable importance with articles of manufacture of thisclass.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A valveconsisting of a'valve-body having an inlet and an outlet portcommunicating with each other when the valve is open, and having avalve-chamber above said inlet and outlet ports, and in alinement withthe inletport, and also having a valve-seat; a valve member entirelywithin, and fitted for sliding movement in the valve-chamber, and havingan interior balancing-chamber, and also having a communicating openingbetween said balancing-chamber and inlet-port in alinement andindirect,communication with said inlet-port; a normally freely removablevalvemember-centering guide carried by the valvebody, and extending intoand constituting a closure for the balancing-chamber of the valvemember, and non-movable during the operations of said valve member; andmeans for operating said valve member.

2. The herein-described float-valve, it consisting of a valve-bodyhaving an inlet and an outlet port communicating with each other whenthe valve is open, and having a valvechamber in alinement with theinlet-port, and also having a valve-seat between said valve chamber andinlet-port 'a valve member fitted for sliding movement in thevalve-chamber, and having an inlet-opening of relatively small diameterin alinement with the inletopening of the valve-body, and also having aninterior balancing-chamber of relatively large diameter in alinementwith the inlet of said valve member; a normally-fixed valvecenteringguide carried by the valve-body and extending into, and constituting aclosure for the balancing-chamber of the valve member; a lever fulcrumedupon the valve-body and connected with the valve member; a float carriedby said lever; and a stop-abutment upon the valve-body in position andadapted for cooperating with, and for limiting the opening movement of,the valve-actuating lever, substantially as described.

3. In a valve, the combination of a valvebody having a valve-seat andinlet and outlet ports; a valve-chamber above said inlet and outletports; a sliding valve member entirely within the valve-chamber, andhaving an interior balancing-chamber having a communicating opening inalinement and in direct communication with said inlet-port; a normallyfreely removable guide carried by the valve-body and extending into thebalancingchamber of the valve member, and non-movable during theoperations of said valve member; and means for operating the valvemember.

4. In a valve of the class specified, the combination with a valve-bodyhaving inlet and outlet ports, and a valve-seat; and also having avalve-chamber above the inlet and outlet ports, and in alinementwith theinletport of the valve-body; of a cylindrical valve member supported forsliding movement in the valve-chamber, and having a central interiorbalancing-chamber with a relatively small inlet, in alinement and indirect communication with the inlet passage of the valve-body; a plugclosing the outlet end of the valve-chamber, and having a stem ofrelatively small diameter extended into, and closing the outlet end ofthe balancing-chamber of the valve member; and means in connectionwith,and adapted for automatically opening and closing said valvemember, relatively to the valve-seat, substantially as described.

' HUBERT K. WOOD. Witnesses:

FRED. J. DOLE, R. W. PITTMAN.

